Engine cooling system



Patented Sept. 20, 1949 ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM y Kenneth A; Browne, Ridgewood, and Wayne D. Cannon, Hohokus, N. J., assignors to Wright Aeronautical Corporation, a corporation ofNew York Application July 26, 1943, Serial No. 496,236

(Cl. 12B-171) 8 Claims. 1

This invention relates to temperature control of air-cooled engines and is particularly directed to automatic control of the cooling airflow over the engine cylinders.

It is an object of the invention to provide an automatic system for controlling the cowl flaps of an aircraft engine and which substantially duplicates the -best flap positions as set by a compef tent pilot under various ight conditions. As far as aircraft engine operation is concerned a fixed full-open cowl flap position would be preferable but the drag created at high aircraft speeds by the fully opened cowl aps is prohibitive. Therefore the best ilap position for a given set of flight conditions is a compromise between the cooling requirements of the engine and the aerodynamic eiciency of the aircraft. It has been found that the engine life or durability is increased by operating below the specified maximum operating temperatures. Accordingly, the engine should -be maintained at as low a temperature as ls permissible without increasing the over all operating cost because of the extra power required to furnish the cooling. The cooling drag horsepower required to maintain sub-maximum cylinder head temperatures is nominally small when normal or sub-normal atmospheric temperatures are encountered, however at above normal atmospheric temperatures, this drag power increases inordinately out of proportion to the advantages accruing from holding the low cylinder temperatures, and it is essential to allow the cylinders to operate toward or at the maximum temperature limits.

In the conventional manual ap operation by the pilot the aps are fully opened for ground running and during climb the flaps generally are placed in an intermediate position, except on hot days when the flaps may be fully opened. During cruising conditions the naps are either closed or opened slightly if the engine temperature becomes excessive. During descent the flaps are closed but after landing the flaps are fully opened. It is an object of this invention to provide an automatic control which generally will follow this manual procedure.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a modulating type of automatic temperature control of the cowl flaps inl which the flaps begin to open at a temperature approximately 125 F. below the maximum voperating temperature limit of the engine andare fully opened at this maximum temperature limit. It is a further object of this invention to modify the temperature control of the cowl flaps such that their maximum opening yis determined by the magnitude of the cooling airflow over the engine. Thus, it is an object of this invention to permit the flaps to remain fully opened during climb if this is required by the engine temperature but with increase in the indicated air speed of the aircraft the maximum permissible ap opening is gradually decreased such that'the pressurev drop oi the cooling airflow across the engine cylinders does not exceed a predetermined va'lue regardless of the temperature of the engine. In addition, it is a further object of this invention to provide means to insure that the flaps are fully opened when the aircraft is on the ground. It is a, further obiect of this invention to provide manual means operable to override the automatic control of the cowl flaps in order to meet such emergency conditions as may arise. 4 Other objects of this invention will become apparent upon reading the annexed detailed description in connection with the drawing which is a, schematic layout of the invention.

Referring to the drawing rthe conventional radial cylinder air-cooled aircraft engine indicated at lll is provided with an annular cowling ll2 having an inturned leading edgeportion I4 deiining a cooling air entrance opening. Rearward of the front cowling i2 is a second cowling I6 having au inturned leading edge ,portion spaced from the trailing edge portion of the front cowling and having its rearward extension providing streamlined continuation of the cowling. The annular space between the front and rear cowling members provides an air exit opening controlled by a plurality of cowl flaps I8 hinged to the trailing edge of the frontcowling.` In addition, the spaces between the radially disposed engine cylinders 20 are provided with baiiles 2| fitted to the finned periphery of the cylinders between the cylinders in orderto confine the cooling airflow to the cylinder fins. The engine and cowling 4structure so far described is conventional.

The temperature control of the cowl flaps i8 comprises a conventional .modulating type control circuit. A temperature responsive resistance 22 is suitably disposed so as to be responsive to the engine cylinder head temperature. This resistance forms one arm of a Wheatstone bridge circuit and an'adjustable'resistance 24 forms the opposing arm of this bridge circuit. One end of each ofthe resistances 2 2 and 24 is grounded while their other ends are connected to thek fixed resistances 26 and 28, respectively," and thence to a source of electric energy 30.- A suitable control relay winding 32 is connected acrossythe junction of the resistances 22, 26 and 24, 28.

The Wheatstone bridge circuit is arranged to close the relay contacts 34 and 86 upon an increase in the resistance 22 because of a rise in the engine temperature and to close the contacts 84 and 88 upon a decrease in the resistance 22. The

` hereinafter described.

Motor relay windings 48 and 42 are adapted to control the position of the associated movable armature 58 to close switch contacts 68 and 82 or 68 and 84 to energize the motor directional field windings 66 or 68, respectively, of the motor 'I8 depending on the particular motor relay winding energized. The motor 'I8 is drivably connected to a cowl ap operating shaft 'I2 for operating the cowl flaps I8. In addition, the shaft I2 carries an arm I4 which is movable to adjust the resistance 24, whereby rotation of the motor '|8`simultaneously adjusts the flaps I8 and the resistance 24. The shaft 12 is also provided with a .cam 16 adapted to control suitable limit switches18 and 88 connected in series with a source of energy 82, the motor 18, and the motor directional control windings 66 and 68, respectively. These limit switches determine the extent to which the cowl ap motor 18 may be operated in either direction, thereby dening the limiting positions of the cowl iiaps. With the above described temperature control, upon an increase `in the temperature of the engine the resistance 22 increases to unbalance the control relay 32 to close the contacts 34 and 36. A circuit may then be completed to the motor relay winding 48 provided appropriate contacts are closed in the pressure responsive element 52. Thereupon the motor 18 is energized to open the cowl flaps I8 and at the same time the resistance 24 is adjusted to rebalance the bridge circuit.

The motor 18 continues to operate to open the flaps until the bridge is rebalanced, whereupon, the control relay 32 is de-energized thereby deenergizing the motor 18. With a drop in temI perature of the engine the decrease in the resistance 22 unbalances the bridge circuit so as `to close contacts 34 and 38 of the control relay 32. Thereupon the motor relay winding 42 is energized and the motor 18 operates to move the flaps in a closing direction until the simultaneous rebalancing adjustment of the resistance 24 rebalances the bridge circuit.

Any suitable modulating type of temperature control circuit or apparatus may be used. Thus, other means may be provided to control the operation of the switch contact 34 in response to the temperature of the engine and thev adjustment of the cowl flaps I8 may be operative to effect a follow-up movement of the contacts 38 and 38 to determine the extent of the adjustment of the cowl naps in accordance with the magnitude of the'change in temperature of the engine. The essential requirements of the temperature control is that the cowl aps have a certain definite position dependent on the engine Acontact I I2.

temperature instead o! attempting to maintain a constant engine temperature.

The pressure responsive element 52 comprises a housing having` a central chamber 82 and a pair of end chambers 84 and 86 formed by the movable members 88 and 88. The'end chamber 84 is subjected to the static air pressure outside the engine cowling through a conduit 82. The 'central chamber 82 is subjected to the impact air pressure in front of the engine through a conduit 84 and the end chamber 88 is subjected to the impact air pressure immediate to the rear of the engine cylinders through a conduit 86. With this construction, for the purpose of this invention, the pressure diiferential across the member 88 is a suiliciently accurate measure of indicated air speed of tle aircraft. In addition, the pressure differential across the movable member 88 is equal to the so-called banle pressure drop across the engine cylinders, or is a measure of the rate of the cooling airilow over the cylinders. Manually adjustable springs 88 and |88 balance the pressure differentials acting against the movable members 88 and 88, respectively. As illustrated in the drawing, the `movable members 88 and 88 comprise slidable pistonlike members but it seems clear that exible diaphragms may be substituted therefor.

'I'he housing of the pressure responsive element 82 is provided with a ilxed contact |82 connected to the line 88, fixed contacts |84 and |88 connected to the switch contact 38 through the lines |88 and I|8, respectively, and with a tlxed Fixed contact I|2 is engageable with the resilient spring contact ||4 connected to the line 54 and carried by the movable member 88 and this xed contact is connected to the resilient spring contact ||6 .carried by the movable member 88 and engageable with the xed contacts |82 or |84. A second resilient contact I8 is carried by movable member 88 and is connected to the line 44 and is engageable with the A iixed contact |86.

At relatively low indicated air speeds the movable member 88 is' moved downward by the spring 88 to close contacts |84 and I|8 and the low baille pressure drop results in an upward movement of the member 88 to close the contacts ||2 and II4. A circuit is thereby completed to the motor relay winding 48 to open the Ilaps I8 independently of the automatic temperature control relay 32. This circuit includes the battery 35; switch terminal 88; lines 31 and |88; switch contacts |84, II8, II2, and H4; lines 54 and 56v to the windings 48. The contacts |84 and ||6 are arranged to close when the indicated air speed, as measured by the' pressure differential across the member 88, falls below approximately 75% to 90% of the stalling speed of the aircraft, thereby causing the cowl ilaps to fullyv open while the aircraft is on the ground. When the indicated air speed, as measured by the pressure diierential across the member 88, increases above 75% to 90% of the stalling speed of the aircraft the movable member 88 is moved upwardly by the differential pressure in chambers 82 and 84 against the bias of spring 88 to close the contacts |82 and ||6 and to open the contacts |84 and |I6. In this condition the contacts 36 and 38 are both connected to the motor relay windings 48 `and 42 whereby the cowl flaps are subject to adjustment in either direction by the automatic temperature control system.

The movable element 88 is responsive to the differential air pressure across the enginecylin-` ders; that is, to the so-called baille pressure drop. When this differential pressure exceeds a predetermined value the element 30 is moved against its spring bias to open the contacts ill and H2. With the cowl flaps fully opened the bias of the spring is adjusted so that contacts v| Il and ||2 open approximately at the speed for maximum aircraft climb; that is, when the indicated air speed rises to approximately 175% of the stalling speed of the aircraft. Therefore, below this maximum climbing speed the temperature control is lfree to position the cowl flaps between its full opened and closed position in accordance with the engine temperature. But above this speed the maximum permissible opening of the cowl' aps is limited by the aforementioned predetermined baiile pressure drop. If the cowl naps are fully opened and the engine speed is increased above the speed for maximum climb the resulting increase in the baiile pressure drop operates to close the contacts ||8 and |06. This completes a circuit to the motor relay winding 42 to effect a closing adjustment of the cowl -iiaps I0. This circuit includes a battery 35, con- 6 l tained in this position and if the switch is moved to engagement withv the contact |26 the cowl iiaps are moved toward their closed position.

While we have described our invention in detail in its present preferred embodiment, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art, after understanding our invention. that various changes tact 39, lines 31 and ||0, switch contacts |06 and i ||0, and lines I4, 46, and 48 to the winding 42. Similarly in any open position of the cowl ilaps, if the baiile pressure drop increases above its limiting value, the contacts ||8 and |06 close to effect a closing adjustment of the cowl aps. In other words the element 90 is responsive to the baille pressure drop to control the maximum open position of the cowl ilap regardless of the engine temperature. That is, the maximum opened position of the cowl naps is limited to that necessary for obtaining a predetermined rate of cooling airflow, but if the engine temperature is sufliciently cool the temperature control may close or adjust the cowl flaps as long as the cooling airiiow does not exceed this predetermined limit.

Summarizing, the cowl flaps are maintained in an opened position below an indicated air speed less than' 75% to 90% of the stalling speed of the aircraft land above this speed the cowl ilaps may be adjusted throughout their entire range by the temperature control system up to approximately the speed for maximum climb. At higher speeds the extent to which the cowl flaps may be opened by the temperature control is such that the bale pressure drop does not exceed a predetermined value regardless of the engine temperature. That is, at high speeds the extent of the ilap opening is considerably restricted. a

From the above description it is apparent that applicant has designed an automatic cowl flap' control system which closely approximates the best possible iiap position obtainable by' connected with the contact 39through a switch arm |22. This switch arm is also engageable with the contacts |24 and |26 which are conand modifications may be made therein without departing fromthe spirit or scope thereof. We aim in the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes.

We claim as our invention:

l. In a cooling control system for an air-cooled engine, means adjustable for regulating the cooling airflow over said engine'means responsive to the temperature oi' said engine for effecting adjustment of said regulating means in an airiiow increasing direction in response to an increase in engine temperature 'and vice versa, and means operative only in response to an increase in the magnitude of the engine cooling airflow above a predetermined value to eiiect an airow decreasing adjustment of said regulating means irrespective of the engine temperature.

2. In a cooling control system for an aircooled engine, means adjustable for regulating the cooling airflow over said engine, means responsive to the temperature of said engine for eifecting adjustment of said regulating means such that there is a substantial engine temperature differential between the maximum and minimum airflow positions of said regulating means, and means operative only in response to an increase in the magnitude of the engine cooling airflow above a predetermined value to eect an airflow decreasing adjustment of said regulating means irrespective of the engine temperature.

` 3. A cooling control system for a multicylinder air-cooled engine having baiiles disposed 4between said engine cylinders to restrict the airilow therebetween and having a cowl about said engine cylinders, said system cornprising adjustable cowl aps for controlling the cooling airow over said cylinders, means responsive to the temperature of said engine for adjusting said aps, and means operative only in response to an increase in the magnitude of the engine cooling airflow above a predetermined value to effect an adjustment of said cowl aps` in a closing direction irrespective of the engine' temperature.

4..In an aircraft, an air-cooled engine therelfore, means adjustable for regulating the cooling airiiow over said engine, vmeans responsive to the temperature of said engine for adjusting said regulating means, and means operatively connected to said regulating means and responsive to substantially the airspeed of said aircraft, within a low airspeed range including zero airspeed, Ior eiecting adjustment of said regulating means to maximum airilow position when said airspeed is less than a predetermined value.

5. In an aircraft, an air-cooled engine therefor, means adjustable for regulating the cooling airflow over said engine, means responsive to the temperature of said engine for eiecting adjustment of said regulating means in an airilow increasing direction in response to an increase in engine temperature and vice versa, means operatively connected to said regulating means and responsive to substantially the airspeed of said aircraft, within a low airspeed range including zero airspeed, for effecting ad- 6. In an aircraft, an air-cooled engine therefor, means adjustable for regulating the cooling airilow over said engine, means responsive to the temperature of said engine for eiecting adjustment of said'regulating means in an airflow increasing direction in response to an increase in engine temperature and vice versa, means operatively connect-ed to said regulating means and responsive to substantially the air speed of said aircraft, within a low airspeed range including zero airspeed, for effecting adjustment of said regulating means to maximum airflow position when said airspeed is less than a. predetermined value, and means operative only in response to an increase in the magnitude of the engine cooling airflow above a predetermined value to eiect an airow decreasing adjustment of said regulating means irrespective of the engine temperature or the aircraft airspeed.

7. In an aircraft, an air-cooled engine therefor, means adjustable for regulating the cooling airflow over said engine, means operatively connected to said regulating means and responsive to substantially the airspeed of said aircraft, within a low airspeed range including zero airspeed, for eilecting adjustment of said regulaing means to maximum airflow position when said airspeed is less than a predetermined value.

8. In a vehicle, an air-'cooled engine therefor, means adjustable for regulating the cooling airilow over said engine, means responsive to the temperature of said engine for effecting adjustment of said regulating means in an airflow. increasing direction in response to an increase in engine temperature and vice versa, and means operative only in response to an increase in the magnitude of the engine cooling airow above a predetermined value to effect an airflow decreasing adjustment of said regulating means irrespective of engine temperature or vehicle air speed.

KENNETH A; BROWNE. WAYNE D. CANNON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the I file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PA'I'EN'IS Number Name Date 2,150,143 Adams Mar. 14, 1939 Re. 21,312 Nissen Jan. 2, 1940 2,246,498 Blanding June 24, 1941 2,384,088 Hagen Sept. 4, 1945 

